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Glasgow Live
Glasgow Live
National
Holly Lennon

Drumchapel Youth Theatre facing closure after lifeline funding snub

A youth group teaching confidence and life skills to children in a disadvantaged part of the city could be forced to close after its pleas for funding were rejected.

The Drumchapel Youth Theatre provides a vital outlet for youngsters in the area who otherwise would have little to no access to arts activities.

The group's application for a £4,500 funding grant from the local authority was rejected by the Drumchapel Area Partnership meaning the theatre will have no choice but to immediately close.

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Brendon McIlroy, director of Halo Arts, has said dozens of children will be robbed of the opportunity to develop confidence, imagination, and performance skill, but also key life skills if the theatre closes.

He told Glasgow Live: "The loss of the youth theatre will be significant to our participants in an area where there is little to no access to arts activities for young people.

"As well as developing performance skills for aspiring young actors, the group chiefly exists to develop confidence and key life skills.

"The group is really important to our participants who have found a safe space once a week to come together to create and develop.

"We have developed something really special with the group who are very close-knit and we have a great relationship with parents and guardians who often come along to our end-of-term sharings.

"This year we were set to use drama to explore and challenge the issues of sectarianism, racism, and bigotry and were hoping to work towards a show at Christmas."

Brendon has written to all members of the Drumchapel Area Partnership urging them to reconsider their decision to reject the call for funding.

He explained: "Some of our participants have disabilities and are on the neurodiverse spectrum also, with this group being of particular importance to those young people and their families.

"We have only ever come to the area partnership once in 2021 for this project with the subsequent terms being funded by National Lottery Communities Fund. We approached the area partnership as there are no other available funding streams to support the project.

"I appeal for an urgent reconsideration of the Drumchapel Youth Theatre application as with no other funding in place, Drumchapel Youth Theatre will have to immediately stop, seeing our 20 regular participants without this important provision."

Drumchapel Area Partnership members have been contacted for comment.

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